HomeMy WebLinkAbout1979/05/22 - ADMIN - Minutes - City Council - Joint MINUTES
JOINT CITY COUNCIL / HOUSING & REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ST . LOUIS PARK , MINNESOTA
May 22 , 1979
1 . Call to Order The meeting was called to order by John
Ralles at 7 : 13 p . m .
2 . Roll Call The following Councilmen were present at
roll call :
Martha Elstrom John Ralles
Ronald Backes
The following Housing Authority Commissioners
were present at roll call :
Dudley Moylan Jane Tschida
James Heltzer
Also present were the City Manager and Executive Director .
3 . Cherne Proposal The Executive Director presented a brief
report describing the status of the proposal o '
A . L . Cheyne for construction of a bank/ office building ; he distributed a
letter from Cherne dated May 21 , 1979 , describing difficulties encountered 0
i' by the developer in arranging a suitable lease with Midland National Bank and
acquiring necessary financing . A . L . Cherne summarized the letter before
the City Council .
Commissioner Tschida expressed concern regarding the indication by Cherne
that development would be postponed to approximately December 3 , 1979 . She
stated Cherne had nearly twelve months to initiate the development and
suggested the Council and Authority may , wish to seek other proposals .
Mr . Cherne further described matters which had delayed the progress of
development and stated he had quite recently received a commitment from
Midland National Bank which requires ground breaking by September 15 , 1979 .
He added it is necessary for him to rearrange financing for the project and
he may need to request the City Council to increase its authorization for
tax increment bonds from $ 2 . 5 million to $ 3 million .
Commissioner Tschida suggested Mr . Cherne should seek an alternate tenant
inasmuch as the proposed tenant appears to have delayed the development
project . There was considerable discussion regardingalternatives to marketing
the site for the most rapid and desirable developmen . v
s
In response to a comment of Mr . Cherne regardin ° the desire of his prospectiVe
lending institution in becoming a partner in the development , Commissioner
Heltzer stated he would like to have representatives otheinstitution meet
with the Council and Authority prior to final approval .
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Council / Authority Minutes
- i "` ,,may 22 , 1979
1
Councilman Elstrom and Commissioner Tschida said the Council and Authority `
should allow Cherne ' s exclusive right to develop the property to expire
and seek other interested developers . Councilman Backes explained although
the development proposed by Cherne has not yet been initiated , his alternateto
ground - breaking date does not appearexcessive and suggested it may take
even longer to entertain new development proposals . v.
i;:
Commissioner Heltzer questioned why approval of the bond issue by the
State Department of Economic Security took an excessive amount of time . 1
There was no action taken on this matter .
4 . Parking Lot Discussion regarding proposal for construction .
of a 17 - stall parking lot at Wooddale Avenue it
on Excelsior Boulevard . Members of the
Housing Authority expressed opposition to the use of this site for a parking 3.
lot and use of tax increment funds to construct such a lot .
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The City Manager explained the Council had received a request from a property
owner at this location to construct a lot near a single- family residence . As
an alternative to such construction , the Council requested that alternatives
be explored , adding the proposed parking lot would be totally assessed to
benefitting property owners .
5 . Purchase Agreement The Executive Director explained both the
City Council and Housing & Redevelopment
Authority had approved the purchase agreement for Block 6 of Oak Park Village
at separate meetings . -
6 . On- Street Parking f .
Oak Park . Village Drive Councilman Ralles explained the City Council :-
received a request from a residential property L .
owner at the corner of Louisiana Avenue and West 32 Street for authorization
to allow on- street parking on his side street ; prior to construction of Oak
Park Village Drive parking was allowed at this location . Re added that due
or-
to safetyand engineering reasons , parking on the front of the lot , Louisiana
-
Avenue , could not be considered .
Members of the Housing Authority expressed concern that on- streetteda
parking
on Oak Park Village Drive could cause ayd
their
preference for a curb cut to allowoff - street parking orremoval of the
median on Louisiana Avenue to allow front - street kigEngineering Department .
Heltzer suggested this matter be reviewed by theCity ' s
There was no action taken on this matter .
There being
no further discussion , it was
7 . Adjournment Councilman Backes , seconded by
moved by
Commissioner Moylan to adjourn the meeting
at 8 : 32 p . m .
The motion passed 6 - 0 . .. .
/ eai . _i � -
A ! EST : i / hn
Ralles ' '
gQA-;------- ting Chairman , ;
Mark ather .
Recording Secretary - 151-